Amused To Death (Oh the irony !)

Hi' Kevin,

I had it on pre-order with Diverse for 2 years @£50, but cancelled it when I saw it on Amazon for £41.09+ free delivery. The link from my Amazon order goes to the Analogue Productions item @£65. Will be holding Amazon to their pre-order price guarantee. Guess I got lucky.

p.s. The Analogue Productions version is on sale at What Records for £34.99 + delivery.

Currently "showing out of stock" though.

I'll stick with Amazon. Not a lot in it when considering delivery charges.

Are we sure that the Columbia/Legacy and Analogue Productions versions are not one and the same?

The BD website and Roger's website make no mention of two versions (other than the picture disc version).

As I said on a previous post I've asked the R. Waters web site for clarification. Still waiting for a reply.

I'm not sure anyone knows for sure at the moment.

However there are at least 2 differing prices and product label descriptions on Amazon for the vinyl.

Makes you wonder.

p.s. Just noticed on the Brain Damaged web site there are 3 Amazon links to the vinyl format.

One is described "LIMITED 180g 2-LP VINYL EDITION" and points to the Analogue Productions version £65.30 ;  another is described as  "STANDARD 2-LP VINYL EDITION" and  points to the Columbia/Legacy version £37.99.

The picture disc "2-LP VINYL PICTURE DISC EDITION' link points to a Columbia/Legacy version at £37.99.

So perhaps there is your answer.

Another puzzle; is it 180 gm or 200gm. as previously described.

I am sure the Limited version is a new addition to the site so maybe there are three versions after all

I have been following this thread with interest and also fired off an email to my local online music retailer (cede-dot-ch in Switzerland). I got a reply this evening saying that the Analogue Productions version has been cancelled and that Sony now has the licence so they, at least, will only have the Sony available which they describe as 2LP 200g (they also have the picture disc)........now I am not sure what to make of that, given the posts here......

I think your music retailer is clearly misinformed.  Acoustic Sounds (who owns Analogue Productions and the QRP pressing plant) have started a heavy marketing push of the release in the last two weeks. With a definite, published release date I would say that it is likely the presses are already running on this title. Check the Acoustic Sounds site for much more info. 

From the Acoustic Sounds website:

"The 2015 editions of Amused to Death will be available on:

• CD (Details to be announced)
• CD / Blu-ray (Details to be announced)
• SACD
• Hi-res digital download (Details to be announced)
• 2LP 200 gram vinyl (pressed at Quality Record Pressings)
• Limited edition, numbered 2LP picture disc vinyl. (Details to be announced)

Legacy Recordings has collaborated with Analogue Productions / Acoustic Sounds in the United States on the release of the 2LP 200 gram vinyl as well as SACD and DSD download audio products."

The last last line is interesting for the "in the United States" language. This hints that Sony could potentially do a pressing somewhere in Europe. If you are in doubt I would order directly from Acoustic Sounds.

Thanks - I will check it out and order direct in which case. Why can't it just be simple eh? But I guess that is why I like this forum - untold info to be had in one place. Thanks again!

Hi Graham

I went for Diverse because Amazon's description was a bit vague and Mark at Diverse assured me it was the AP 200g version they were selling (Diverse has one big advantage over the River in that you can actually speak to someone).

Just received a reply from the R. Waters web site to clarify which version is for sale.

The fact that it describes it as 200gm suggests it may be the Analogue Productions version.If it is the £34 price tag looks attractive. Anyone willing to take a punt?

However here's the reply  :

Hello ,

Thank you for the message.

Unfortunately we have not been provided with this information. Please contact the manufacturer for further assistance.

Thanks,

Richard
Your Warner Music Customer Service Team

Not particularly helpful I'm afraid.

In this instance not sure who the manufacturer is either; Sony, Columbia,Legacy,Analogue Productions.

EU release date is June 15, 2015.
US release date is July 27, 2015.


At this exact moment it's still unclear what pressings will actually exist for EU and US release, it has been advertised as 2LP 200 Gram Vinyl for both releases/markets. We already know that the US version will be pressed at QRP and with an Analogue Productions catalog number. For the 2LP 200 gram EU version, there is no conclusive information, it will almost for sure be pressed from the exact same mastering / cut, but it could be pressed in Europe, maybe Record Industry in Holland (because this is a Sony / Columbia release), or it could even be pressed by QRP as well....

Both of these releases will not be limited in any way. There is no need to pre-order unless for practical reasons (for example people who don't remember stuff and prefer to get on with it sooner for that reason)... there will be no permanent shortage, no unreasonable limitation to production, and pre-ordering will not guarantee that delivery is faster (nor does it need to be).

In fact, for this particular release, because details are still not 100% clear as to what pressings will be available and how they were produced, with the US version being advertised for more than double the cost of the EU version, and with the very high probability that they will be sourced from the same mastering, pressed to the same high standards, or eventually pressed at the same place... I would certainly refrain from pre-ordering and wait until more information is available to make the best decision when the time is right.

Vinyl Gourmet - Thanks for the info and clarification.

Interesting that there is more than 5 weeks difference on the release dates.  I just checked the official Roger Waters site and it lists July 24th as the official release date, as does the Acoustic Sounds website.

For the US release things are pretty much confirmed, release date July 24, 200 gram Vinyl pressed at QRP issued with Analogue Productions catalog number.

It's the EU release that is still not 100% confirmed. What is known by now is:

- Distribution / Suppliers say the release date is June 15.
- It's a Sony/Columbia catalog number.
- It's described as 200 gram vinyl.
- Retail price should stay below 30 Euros in Europe.

Here's what I expect for the EU version:

- EU pressing at Record Industry in Holland (because they have deep relationship with Sony). However... there is a rumour going on that it migh also be pressed at QRP... (I don't really believe that)

- Same mastering/cut as the US release, by the same engineer and so on...

- Not sure about the gatefold cover materials used... sometimes there are a few differences, but for this particular "major" release I suppose they might go the extra effort to make them almost 100% the same.


If all this is confirmed, for buyers in Europe it makes much more sense to get the EU version at much lower cost...

Release date for European version is now changed to match the US version: July 27, 2015

Just been on the Diverse web site. The prices for the vinyl 200gm and picture disc versions are both £38. Down from the original £50. However they are described as from Sony Music not as previously Analogue Productions. The SACD version @ £25 is described as from Analogue Productions.

The fog's getting thicker!! 

The version at Diverse is the European pressing, from Sony/Columbia.

Probably that is what all European stores will have except those stores that import directly from the USA, and even for those I'm not sure they'll be able to get the AP USA version because Sony sent out specific instructions for the AP USA version not to be distributed in Europe, they want to make sure that AP gets the US market, and Sony/Columbia gets the EU market and they are serious about it...

At this point we know there will be a EU Sony/Columbia pressing on double LP 200g vinyl. It's unclear if this will also be pressed at QRP USA, or if another plant in Europe will do the pressing. It's unclear what the actual cost of the EU Sony/Columbia version will be, but as of now the RRP is below 30 Euros.

What Records does show the US Analogue Productions LP on their website... maybe they are importing directly.

At this moment there is no indication that EU and US versions will be any different.

Let's wait and see, there's no need to rush, this will be available for everyone and for a long time, it's a long time until July (if not further delays occur).